Does life insurance pay for a funeral?
The process of organising a funeral is a difficult time for anyone following the loss of a loved one. It can be equally difficult thinking about our own funerals and arrangements for after we are gone.
The main concern will often be how to afford something like a funeral, with the average cost of a UK funeral being around £4,216 according to insurance provider Legal & General.
Life insurance is a great way to ensure your loved ones don’t struggle to cover the cost of your funeral. Depending on the level of cover you choose, they could even repay debts, cover mortgage payments and more.
In this page, we’ll discuss your frequently asked questions about funerals and exactly how you can use your life insurance policy to pay for your funeral.
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How long after a death is the funeral?
On average, a funeral will be around 2 weeks after the person has died. This can vary though for several different reasons. Common reasons for a funeral to be more than two weeks after a death include:
| The person hasn’t left any funeral plans | If the person who has died did not have a funeral plan, it can take longer to decide on things such as where the burial should be, which funeral director to use etc. |
| The funeral director isn’t available immediately | If the funeral director is very busy, there may be a slight delay in when the funeral can take place |
| Further investigations e.g. post mortems are needed | Sometimes depending on how the person died further investigations could be necessary before the funeral can take place |
| Struggling to afford the funeral | Cost can be a big factor when it comes to funerals. Without life insurance or a funeral plan, the deceased’s family may need more time to get the funds needed to pay for the funeral. |
| Religious beliefs | Some religions have rules and processes about funerals meaning funeral services must take place sooner or later than the average 2 weeks. |
How to find out if someone has died
It is never nice to hear someone you know has passed away. There are a few different ways you might hear this news:
- You could be contacted by a friend or family member of the deceased
- You see a death announcement online (e.g. on social media)
- You see a death announcement in the local newspaper
How to find out when a funeral is being held UK
After hearing of someone’s death the next question will likely be around when their funeral will be. Generally, you will find out when a person’s funeral is:
- Through an announcement online or in a local newspaper
- Through speaking face-to-face with a relative or friend of the deceased
- Over a phone call or message from the person organising the funeral
Average Cost of a funeral in the UK
| Year | Average Cost |
| 2012 | £3,087 |
| 2022 | £4,216 |
| 2032 | £5,832 (estimated) |
Find a local death announcement
If you have heard someone you know may have passed away, you can check local death announcements if you are unsure how to contact the deceased’s family.
A death announcement is a public record that will most often be found in a local newspaper, but you may now see them posted and shared on social media. These announcements will include details such as:
- The name, date of birth and date of death of the person who has died
- Information about the funeral (time, date, location etc.)
- Any other information e.g. no flowers at the funeral
What days are funerals held UK?
Usually, funerals in the UK will be held on a weekday – though it is possible to have funerals on a Saturday or Sunday. This is because availability for things such as cemeteries, burial services, funeral homes/services etc will be easier mid-week.
You may also face additional charges if you wish to bury your loved one on a weekend day, due to higher demand. The demand for these days will often be higher due to many people working Monday-Friday e.g. people who work in an office, school etc.
Organising a funeral
The process of organising a funeral can be very emotional and is not the easiest thing to do. In some cases the process may be slightly easier, if the person who has died has set plans in place such as pre-paid funeral plan.
If organising a funeral, you will need to register the person’s death before moving on to contacting the funeral director. A funeral director will not be able to make any arrangements until the death has been properly registered.
You will then need to make other arrangements like contacting the council to arrange a burial plot or cremation. Then you will need to contact your place of worship (if you want to have a religious ceremony) and organise things such as flowers and a wake.
There is a lot to think about during this time but luckily Gov.uk has a step-by-step guide on their website you can check to be sure you have covered everything.
Can you pay for a funeral with life insurance?
YES – In fact this is the main purpose of many life insurance policies, as your loved ones will receive a cash lump sum in the event of your death.
Most policies including family protection, whole of life cover and guaranteed life insurance will be designed to help your family cover your funeral costs. Paying for your funeral is often the main reason people will choose to take out a life insurance policy.
The main exception to this is mortgage life insurance (decreasing term life insurance), which is specifically designed to pay off your remaining mortgage balance if you die. In most cases, there won’t be any additional funds left to cover your funeral after this.
If you need advice about which policy will be right for you, speak to one of our skilled life insurance EXPERTS. With over 20 years expertise, we can advise you on the right level of cover for your needs. With the right advice, you can have peace of mind, knowing you won’t be paying more than you need to be.
Resources
Gov.uk – Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses payment)
